Sadr supporters rally in Baghdad, press Abadi to form new cabinet

BAGHDAD, March 11 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people
rallied on Friday in Baghdad, heeding a call from Shi'ite cleric
Moqtada al-Sadr to put pressure on Prime Minister Haider
al-Abadi to proceed with his plan to form a cabinet of
independent, professional ministers.

As the demonstrators were gathering in central Baghdad's
Tahrir (Liberation) Square, state TV said Abadi had asked
political blocs in parliament and "influential social figures"
to nominate technocrats as ministerial candidates.

Several demonstrators were disappointed with the
announcement, saying Abadi was caving in to the politicians by
asking them to put forward their proposed names.

"I don't think Abadi can do the reforms he promised," said
Ammar Salman, a 37-year-old taxi driver, carrying the red, white
and black Iraqi flag. "The political blocs won't let him."

Corruption is eating away at Baghdad's resources even as it
struggles with falling revenue due to rock-bottom oil prices and
high spending due to the costs of the war on Islamic State.

A year and a half into his four-year term, Abadi said last
month that he wanted to replace his ministers with technocrats
to challenge the system of patronage that encourages graft by
distributing posts along political, ethnic and sectarian lines.

"Your credit is about to finish," said a banner carried by
demonstrators in Tahrir Square, apparently addressing the
nation's politicians in general without naming anyone.

The banner was put on a frame in the form of gallows with
ropes tied as hanging nooses dangling underneath.

The number of those who rallied at Sadr's call this week was
far less than last Friday when an estimated 200,000 people
gathered outside the Green Zone, a heavily fortified district
that houses government ministries and embassies.

It is the third consecutive Friday that Sadr's followers
have rallied in Baghdad to demand the replacement of Abadi's
ministers by technocrats not affiliated with political parties.

The cleric on Wednesday said Abadi "should be given a chance
to proceed with his reforms", cautioning the prime minister at
the same time against yielding to pressure and appointing
ministers vetted by the political parties.

"If we feel that the reforms are real and not just media
noise, there will be more measures in support" of Abadi, Sadr
said.

Four weeks ago Sadr, heir to a Shi'ite clerical dynasty
persecuted under Saddam Hussein, gave Abadi 45 days to deliver
on his pledged change or face a no-confidence vote in
parliament.

The demonstration he addressed on the previous Friday was
held at an entrance to the Green Zone, raising concern of
violence with security forces.

Sadr said he changed the location to Tahrir Square as a
goodwill gesture to Abadi. A bridge over the Tigris river
separates the square from the Green Zone.
(Reporting by Saif Hameed. Writing by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing
by Dominic Evans)